Newport Pell Bridge
The Claiborne Pell Newport Bridge in Newport, Rhode Island, United States, a suspension bridge that connects Newport and Jamestown, crossing the Narragansett Bay. It was built in 1969 and is featured on the reverse of the Rhode Island quarter. CC-BY-SA-3.0/Matt H. Wade at Wikipedia Matt H. Wade - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:UpstateNYer Creative Commons: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ Credit: CC-BY-SA-3.0/Matt H. Wade at Wikipedia / Matt H. Wade

In advance of the celebrations surrounding the 50thanniversary of the Newport Pell Bridge, The Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority (RITBA) has announced that it is looking to hear from any tradesperson that worked on the original construction of the Newport Pell Bridge from 1966 through 1969.

RITBA will be planning an event that recognizes the people who worked on the bridge, changing the lives and transportation habits of millions of people over the past five decades.

If you or someone you know worked on the Newport Pell Bridge between 1966 and 1969, we’d love to incorporate your story in the 50th anniversary celebrations. Please contact us at NPB50@ritba.org or call (401) 423-0800 and ask for Mr. Raphe Sciola.

Ryan Belmore is the owner and publisher of What's Up Newp. He took over the publication in 2012 and has grown it into a three-time Rhode Island Monthly Best Local News Blog (2018, 2019, 2020). He was named LION Publishers Member of the Year in 2020 and received the Dominique Award from the Arts & Cultural Society of Newport County the same year. He has been awarded grants for investigative and community journalism, and continues to coach and mentor new local news publications nationwide. Ryan...